Howard Coster
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Howard Sydney Musgrave Coster (27 April 1885 – 17 November 1959) was a British photographer, opening a London studio in 1926. He was a self-styled 'Photographer of Men'.


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After a childhood in the
Isle of Wight The Isle of Wight (Help:IPA/English, /waɪt/ Help:Pronunciation respelling key, ''WYTE'') is an island off the south coast of England which, together with its surrounding uninhabited islets and Skerry, skerries, is also a ceremonial county. T ...
, he was introduced to photography through his uncle who owned a photographic studio where Coster worked before moving to South Africa to try his hand at farming. After serving in the RAF during
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he worked in a studio in South Africa where he met his future wife Joan Burr (1903–1974), who was also a photographer. In 1926, on his return from South Africa with his wife, Coster opened a studio at 8 and 9 Essex Street, off the Strand. Unusually, his studio was dedicated solely to the photography of men, following the example of the American photographer
Pirie MacDonald Ian Pirie MacDonald Royal Photographic Society, HonFRPS (January 27, 1867 – April 22, 1942) was an American Portrait photography, portrait photographer, New York City civic leader, and peace advocate. He photographed over 70,000 men in the span ...
, and he became known as "the photographer of men". His business was successful from the start, and by the 1930s, Coster had undertaken several commissions for portraits including those of
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such as
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as well as successful writers, including
John Galsworthy John Galsworthy (; 14 August 1867 – 31 January 1933) was an English novelist and playwright. He is best known for his trilogy of novels collectively called '' The Forsyte Saga'', and two later trilogies, ''A Modern Comedy'' and ''End of th ...
, J. B. Priestley, as well as one of his most iconic images,
A. A. Milne Alan Alexander Milne (; 18 January 1882 – 31 January 1956) was an English writer best known for his books about the teddy bear Winnie-the-Pooh, as well as children's poetry. Milne was primarily a playwright before the huge success of Winnie-th ...
with his son
Christopher Robin Milne Christopher Robin Milne (21 August 1920 – 20 April 1996) was an English author and bookseller and the only child of author A. A. Milne. As a child, he was the basis of the character Christopher Robin in his father's Winnie-the-Pooh stories ...
and Pooh Bear, at Cotchford Farm, their home in Sussex. The UK
National Portrait Gallery National Portrait Gallery may refer to: * National Portrait Gallery (Australia), in Canberra * National Portrait Gallery (Sweden), in Mariefred *National Portrait Gallery (United States), in Washington, D.C. *National Portrait Gallery, London ...
holds five portraits of Coster, one by
Eric Gill Arthur Eric Rowton Gill (22 February 1882 – 17 November 1940) was an English sculptor, letter cutter, typeface designer, and printmaker. Although the ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'' describes Gill as "the greatest artist-craftsma ...
. There are over 9000 portraits by Coster in their collection, including those of
G. K. Chesterton Gilbert Keith Chesterton (29 May 1874 – 14 June 1936) was an English author, philosopher, Christian apologist, journalist and magazine editor, and literary and art critic. Chesterton created the fictional priest-detective Father Brow ...
,
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, and the image of A. A. Milne with his son Christopher Robin mentioned above. A retrospective was held in 1985.Brief biography of Howard Coster
National Portrait Gallery National Portrait Gallery may refer to: * National Portrait Gallery (Australia), in Canberra * National Portrait Gallery (Sweden), in Mariefred *National Portrait Gallery (United States), in Washington, D.C. *National Portrait Gallery, London ...
website
The exhibition catalogue said of his work:
Coster is perhaps noted for his innovative and dramatic use of lighting. Carefully judged, low-key effects illuminate character and suggest atmosphere in studies such as those of the crime writer Edgar Wallace or the oboist Leon Goossens. The quality and range of his work in this exhibition confirm Coster as one of the major photographic portraitists of his time.
Coster died in Melton in
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in 1959; in his will, he left £1,124 1s to his widow, Joan Coster.England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858–1966, 1973–1995 for Howard Coster (1960)
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References


Further reading

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External links


Portraits by Coster
in the National Portrait Gallery.
Portraits of Coster
in the National Portrait Gallery. {{DEFAULTSORT:Coster, Howard Photographers from London 1885 births 1959 deaths People from the Isle of Wight